When you started off new life in Japan, Furikomi（振込）can be a thing that you need to learn soon how to do. We also get many questions about this from people who before make Japanese bank account. Japanese wire transferring is a bit complicated but once you know how, it’s very convenient.    1. Less than ¥100,000 In this case ATM is available. You would find ATM section next to teller counter when you visit a branch of banks in town. … [More]

HIPPO HOUSE NARIMASU 12 Living room renovation project was completed last year giving this newer building an even larger living space for tenants to enjoy. The stylish furnishings add to the overall character and comfort for tenants to enjoy. Narimasu 12 has been popular among students studying near Ikebukuro, Takadanobaba and the Shinjuku area with its great train access ~ Fukutoshin, Yurakucho, lines. 

Recommended for Warabi, Kita-Toda, and Kita-Urawa Share House tenants! Introducing HIPPO friend and Warabi-based Barber Kageomi A.K.A ‘Omi’ san. He just opened his new shop which is just a 3 minute walk from Warabi Station west exit. Many of our tenants have visited Omi san for his talent and professional cuts. Omi speaks English very well since he lived and worked as a barber in Toronto, Canada years ago. He has worked at barbershops in both Ginza and Akabane, Tokyo … [More]

HIPPO STAFF and tenants from HIPPO WARABI and HIPPO KITA TODA took in a Giants game the other night at the Tokyo Dome. Lots of fun! Tenants in our Tokyo Share houses in Itabashi and Nerima often attend games together. Everyone agreed that the atmosphere and excitement during Japanese games is greater than that of the American MLB experience. Probably the most popular sport aside from Sumo. However, Soccer has gained a lot of interest especially in the Saitama area … [More]

Tenants in our HIPPO Sakura Share House in Setagaya take the historical Tokyu Setagaya Line.  The Setagaya Line was opened by the Tamagawa Electric Railway (玉川電気鉄道 Tamagawa Denki Tetsudō, “Tamaden”) in 1923, running on surface streets between Shibuya and the Tama River. Since the railway merged with Tokyu in 1938, the balance of the line closed in 1969, leaving this isolated section as the sole Tokyu line to use 1,372 mm (4 ft 6 in) gauge. The Setagaya Line and the Toden Arakawa Line … [More]

HIPPO Tenants took part in another ‘Kawagoe Tour’ recently. The small Edo town known as ‘KOEDO’ is a place all travelers and lovers of Japanese culture must visit. Koedo is located about 40 minutes North of the Tokyo / Saitama border. We took a group of mostly German students on this latest trip and they really enjoyed the historical town. On the way to Kawagoe we stopped at the Omiya Bonsai Museum (Toro Station and one stop from Omiya). 

KITA URAWA KARAOKE NIGHT  Before I lived in Hippo House Kita Urawa, I lived in Tokyo share houses in Ikebukuro, Narimasu and Oshiage, so many of my friends refer to me as the ‘share house veteran’.  When I first came to Japan I originally wanted to live in a sharehouse in Saitama due to it being less crowded compared to Tokyo. Now, two years later I have finally found a share house in Saitama and I really enjoy it! While … [More]